Controlled decline elevator work station apparatus for carcass splitting and the like



Feb. 9, 1965 L. H. REDFORD ETAL 3,168,937

CONTROLLED DECLINE ELEVATOR WORK STATION APPARATUS FOR CARCASS s u'muc AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 21, 1963 2 Y E M m; H

w a My 5 a a M Feb. 9, 1965 L. H. REDFORD ETAL 3,163,937

CONTROLLED DECLINE ELEVATOR WORK STATION APPARATUS FOR CARCASS SPLITTING AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 21, 1963 INVENTORS zzaya M PEDFaea, g flA fllflly M 6442-44 m e /r A W W O. m

.. mately one-hundred forty pounds.

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3,168,5937 CONTROLLED DECMNE ELEVATUR WORK STA- TIQN APPARATUS IFGR CARCASS PLITTHNG AND THE LEE Lloyd H. Redford and Anthony M. Garcia, Cleveland, Ohio, assignors to Earl (I. Gibbs, inc, Cleveland, @hio Filed @ct. 21, 1963, Ser'. No. 317,576 15 Claims. (Cl. ice-+14) The present invention relates broadly to an elevator apparatus for use insplitting or halving the carcasses of beef-cattle and the like, and more particularly to a controlled decline elevator apparatusused as a work station for a carcass splitter to stand upon while splitting and scribing the carcass of a meat animal, where such animal is suspended head'down from a moving overhead conveyor and spreading mechanism.

Since the introduction of the overhead conveyor system for moving slaughtered meat animals progressively from one station to another during the process of dressing the carcass of such animals for the market, it has been found that the carcass splitting operation has limited the forward movement of such conveyorsystem and unto the other end of said plastic-coated wire rope so that necessarily delayed the operators working at the other a dressing stations, A high degree of skill and accuracy is required by the carcass splitter to make a uniform car- 7 cass split while using a cutting saw weighing approxi- It is an important aid in making a satisfactory split to have the Work station so that its height will permit the splitter to stand erect in front of the carcass during the entire splitting operation.

The art of carcasssplitting had a work station platform that moved ina vertical or up and down direction and was impossible for the carcass splitter accurately to split a carcass through the longitudinal center of the chine of the, carcass being cut.

Aprincipal object ofithe invention is to provide a work station having anelevator movement, in a direction obliquely to ahorizontaLand with controls thereon, to

enable the carcass splitter to use such' controls during the splitting operation, to synchronizethe forward movernent of the work station with the forward movement of the carcass inorder to maintain a juxtaposition with the forward, progression movement. 'of t the carcass on the overhead conveyor, and synchronize the downward movcment of the work station withthe downward progress i "or the cutting tool, such as a beef splitting saw, in order to maintain a juxtaposition between the carcass and cutting tool. i

Another object of the invention is to provide. such work station, having foot-operated elevator movement controls, attached to the floor thereof, to enable the carcass splitter to actuate. the power meansand the brake means on the supportiframe' of the elevator to maintain move the elevator upward to reposition it in order to be in readiness to split the. next approaching carcass,without thejstoppage of the overhead carcass carrying conveyor. Still another object of the invention is to provide such awork station having'a foot-opeiated elevator movement control unit, attachedto the floor thereof,for use by the carcass splitter,.in which the controlsa re arrangedso that the engagement of one control for the movement of 1 the desired descending progression movement of the elevator while the hands of the operator are engaged with the cutting tooland the carcass being cut, and to well as efiicient of use.

elevator apparatus with the overhead 30 it is suspended from said support frame remote from said carcass. j

Other objects and advantages of the invention reside in a structure of the aforementioned character that is simple and practical of construction, strong and reliable in use, economical of manufacture and maintenance, as

Other objects and advantages more or less ancillary to the foregoing, and the manner in which all the various objects are realized will appear in the followingdescription, which consideredin connection with the accompanying drawings, sets forth the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to thedrawings:

FIG 1 is a perspective front view of the work station elevator apparatus showing a carcass being split;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view ofthe Work station support unit for the cutting tool broken away; j .l

FIG. 3 is an end elevation view of the work station elevator apparatus taken from the right of FIG. 2; s

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of the control mechanism taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along a line 5--5 of FIG. 4' and showing the support for the control mechanism aifixed to the under side of the elevator. plat form. i

Referring to the various figures of the drawingit will 7 be seen that the controlled decline elevator apparatus of the invention comprises structure or unit members as follows: Aan elevatorsupport base-having an eleva tor trackway that is declining or oblique tofla horizontal plane; B-an elevator workstation with a horizontal positioned platform mounted for movement on said trackway; (J-elevator movement control apparatus mounted on said elevator platform and connected topower andbraking means attached'to said elevatonsupport 11 jrespectively, and twoparalle'l bottom end rails, 12

and 13 respectively affixed thereto and forming a rectangle preferably approximately eight feet long and two and onehalf feet wide. Theend="rail 12 has two" vertical and parallelrails l4 and 15 respec-tively, fixedly mounted adjacent each end of said rail 12 and. preferably extending upwardly approximately six feet. The said rails l tand =15 have a tiebar 16 mounted'blow the top end thereot joining them together in a rectangular form.

The said vertical rails 14 and 15have adjustment plates 17 and 18 respectively mounted on the outer "surface thereof adjacent the top ends 19 and Elliot said extending'downward to the said tie barlo.

Thesaid rail 10 has ayoke 21 mounted onthe upper rails "and surface thereof adjacent the end rail 13 and with its chann'el walls 22 upwardly positioned and in alignment with said adjustment plate 17. The said rail 1.1 has a yoke 23 mounted on the upper surface thereof adjacent gtheend rail 14 and with its channel walls 24; upwardly positioned and in alignment with said adjustment plate 118.

v yoke 23. a

"; and one-half feet.

rerators backrest 55 with studs 56, on the rear thereof, for attaching it in spaced relation to the said support pipe 1 54 adjacent its top 5 7, so thatthe front of the backrest 55 issubstantially parallel tothe front 4410f the platform 40.

amass? The channel Walls 22 of said yoke 21 have a central aperture 25 therethrough, and the adjustment plate 17 has a series of apertureszo therethroughaligned along an arc of a circle having its center in the said aperture 22 of said yoke 21. The channel walls 24 have a like aperture 27 therethrough, and the adjustment plate 3 has a like series of apertures 28 therethrough.

The said support member A has a declining elevator trackwayv rail 29 mounted on adjustment plate 17 and yoke 21 and asecond declining elevator trackway rail mounted on adjustment plate 13 and yoke 23. The said trackway rail 29 has an aperture adjacent one end thereof to receive a'fastening means such as a'bolt inserted inthe V aperture25 in the walls 22 ofyoke 21 and has a second aperture adjacent the other end thereof in alignment j with the arcuate series of apertures 26 in the adjustment plate 17 to receive a similar means to secure said rail 2) to the said plate 17. Trackway rail 3% is provided with like apertures adjacent its'ends. to secure said rail 38 by similar fastening means to the adjustment plate It? and When mountedrthe said trackway rails tend in an oblique downward direction from the said adjustment plates to the yoke on the bottomside rails in alignment therewith. It has been found that a 39 angle between the bottom side rails and the respective trackway rails will give satisfactory results for the elevator'travel the trackway rails 29 and said trackway rails.

The platform 40 is provided with flanged wheels and 30, and a side 44 remote from adjustably mounted on the underside thereof adjacent the side 43' and in alignment with the trackway rails 29 and 39 respectively. To hold the platform in a horizontal v position onthe oblique or declining trackway rails 2% and 30, the platform lfi has a pair of Wheel support bars 57 and 48 affixed to the front 41 and back 42 thereof and extending outwardly in alignment therewith to a point adjacent the said] trackway rails 29 and 30. Flanged wheels 49 andt5tlhaving their respective, axles 51 and 52 1 aifixed tosaidwheel support bars 47 andfefi are mounted on the bottom for underside'of said trackway rails 29 v The said wheels and 46 that are mounted on the top surface of the .trackway rails 29""and 3t? and the wheels I '49 and 50 that aremounted on thebottor surface thereof V are placed so that they serve to maintain the elevator member- B" in a" substantially. horizontal position and provide the means vwherebyu said elevator may be easily moved on saidjtrackway rails-in-an oblique downward or upward direction.

The said platform 40 has a floor 53 provided with a a slotted central portion, preferably such asis found in expanded metal to provide the operator with a firm footing as well as to provide drainage from the top surface thereof during the splitting operation. I a i "I-he-platform 40 has a vertical support pipe 54 attached thereto; preferably by bolts, at the midpoint of its back 42 that extends upwardly therefrom approximately three The said support pipe 54 has an op- The said support pipe 54 has a horizontal guard rail 'S S attached thereto' adjacent the said backrest 55, that extends across the platform back 4 2, and in alignment therewith, and forward along the two sides 43 and 44 and preferably several inches beyond-the platform ed as 29 and 3d exattachment thereto, preferably by bolts.

defined by vertical planes passing through sides 43 and 44. The said guard rail 58 has vertical downward extending portions adjacent the front 41 of the platform 40 for The platform it has a second and lower horizontal guard rail 59 in substantial vertical alignment with said uard rail 58 and which is attached to the support pipe 54- and platform 4i) in like manner, and which serves as a foot guard for the opeartor. The support pipe 54 and guard rails 53 and 59 may be bolted to either side of the-platform as desired so; that the platform may be used eitherxside of the rail. e

. Referring now to the elevator movement control apparatus member C there is provided, a power means, preferably anrelectric motor 7t that is mounted on a pair of transverse rails 71 and 72 having their ends resting'on and attached to the bottom side rails 10 and 11 of member L A adjacent to. and'parallel to the bottom end rail 12 thereof.

platform :40, in bearings 76 and 77 which have their' bases attached to said transverse rails 71 and 72 at each side of said cable drum 75.

The said cable drum 75 carries a cable 78 thatpasses over a sheave 79 mounted. on the tie bar 16 andrwhich y then passes downward to the mid-portionof the side 43 the said work station has a horizontally positioned plat-, a form 40 having ai front 41, a back 42, a side 43* adjacent of the elevator platform 40 where it is fixedly secured at The said shaft, 74 has an extended end portion 81 remote from the gear box 73, uponwhich is mounted a brake unit, preferablya'piston actuated hydraulic brake unit,82, that has its base 83 mounted on the said transverse rails 7ll and 72. The brake unit 82 has a brake actuating cylinder 84 mounted thereon and to which is connected a flexible tube 85 through which brake fluid is carried from said brake cylinder 84 to a master piston cylinder 85 co-operating therewith and which is mounted on the lower surface of the horizontal leaf of an L- shaped bracket 37 having the top edgeof'its vertical leaf welded to the under side of the fioor53 of theplatform 4%.

A foot-operated horizontal control bar 88, for actuating I said master cylinder 86 is pivotally'mounted on the floor '53 of the platform 4%. It has a horizontal. bar portion 89 and two vertical depending end portions 9 9 and}9 1.:

The floor 53 hastwoslots 92 therein to receive the said ends 90 and 91 50 that the barportion 89 ispositioned near the front 41 of the platform 4% and parallel thereto.

Theend 90 of the said control bar is irithe form of a bell crank and has arr-aperture 93 therein adjacentthe' w apex-of its angle. .The lower arm 94thereof has a'bottom surface 95 slightly arcuate throughout its length and.

which merges with the lower end surface thereof; that is semi-circular across its width. -The end 91 has a similar aperturetplaced atan equal distance from the bar portion;

7 The said control bar, 88 has its ends pivotally mounted ,ori the floor 5$ by means of bosses 96 and has its hori- 'zontal'bar portion 39 just a few inches above thefloonSSL The said bosses 96'are located on the under surface of said fioorESE; adjacent the sidestof said slots 92 and ohaving apertures therein to receive fastening means," such as 7 bolts, that pass through like apertures 93 in the coritrol bar ends'9tland 91. a

The control bar 88 is connected to-the'master cylinder" J 86 through its end 90 by rheansof a bell-crank lever 97 ithat is positioned so that a horizontal arm 98 thereof is j above andin vertical alignment with the piston rod 99 v r a of said master cylinder 86 and provides africtional-fljengagement between the upper or outer edge 1% thereof U "and the bo ttorrrysurface- '95 of arm :94 of said end 99.. The second arm MP1 of the bell-crank'lever 97 is a downwardly extending vertical arm which forms 'a right by the operator from V cylinder 36. brake system to apply the brake of said unit 82 and-thereangle with the arm 98. The angle edge 102 of the vertical arm ltll engages the end 103 of the piston rod 99.

A horizontal yoke Mi l is welded adjacent its closed end to the upper surface of the horizontal leaf of said bnacket 87 so that the opening between the yoke arms m5 is in vertical alignment with the piston rod 99 and the horizontal arm-92 of the bell-crank lever 97. The said yoke arms Hi5 extend outwardly from said bracket 87 to provide a pivotal mounting of said bell-crank lever 97 betweenthe yoke arms M95 adjacent the mid-point of the vertical armlfil thereof. The pivotal mounting thereof is provided through aligned apertures 1% in said yoke arms 105 and the said vertical arm ltll and the use of bolts or other well known means. 7

The said yoke arms 1G5 extend outwardly beyond said vertical arm llll and are apertured at M7 to'provide a pivotal mounting therebetween for a control adjustment bar 1% that is vertically positioned and spaced apart from said vertical arm Elli and which has an aligned aperture therein to receive'a bolt passing through the apertures at 1&7.

The said control adjustment bar ltltl has a brake adjustment bolt 1%, to engage the vertical arm Trill, mounted adjacent its lower end and in end alignment with the piston rod 99. At a similar distance above the pivotal mounting it)? of said bar litlii is a spiral spring 11% which i has one end 11]. thereof attached to said bar 193. The

other end 112 of said spring llltl is adjustably attached to a threaded eye bolt which passes through an aperture in an angle bracket mounted on the platform 46. l

The said spiral spring it co-acts with-the brake unit 82, through the control adjustment bar ltld, to'hold the elevator member B in a stationary position while the brake is applied. The said spiral spring lit) when mounted, must be of sufficient size, and under sufiicient tension, to pivotally move the upper end of control bar 168 away applied and also makes it impossible to apply the brake while the motor starter is energized.

Safety features are provided for the elevator work station member C. There is an electrical limit switch 115 connected to the motor starter circuit and adapted to break the circuit when the elevator reaches a safe upper limit on the trackway. It is mounted on the under side of the trackway rail 3% adjacent the upper end thereof and positioned to engage the end of a rod 116 mounted on the wheel bar 48 parallel to the trackway rail and extending upwardly beyond the flange of the trackway wheel 5d A second electrical toggle switch 117 is mounted on the under side of the tie bar 16 adjacent the cable 78 and which is electrically connected by a separate circuit to an electrically operated solenoid brake 118 mounted on the under surface of the fioor 53 adjacent to the trackway wheel 30. The said switch 117 has a wheel 119 mounted on its toggle that engages the said cable 7% under slight tension which maintains an open circuit therein. A break in the cable 78 will release the'said tension on the toggle of the switch 117 and close the circuit which will cause the said solenoid to apply the brake to the trackway wheel 3t and thus prevent the elevator from falling or descending out of control.

An additional safety feature is provided to prevent the breakage of c ontrol'parts through a vertical adjustment bolt 12% mounted on a boss 121 welded to the closed from the vertical arm 1G1 of lever 97 and move the adjustment'bolt ill) into engagement with-said vertical arm lfi'l 0f; lever 97 and move the adjustmeht bolt 1019 into engagement with'said vertical arm ltlll. which in turn will engage and depress the piston of the master brake This creates the necessarypressure in the by. prevents the cable drum 75 and-cable678 with the elevator member 13 attached thereto, from moving.

' Also, in addition -to the force applied to the brake switch lid which endof the .yoke 94 in alignment with the horizontal arm of the bell-crank lever 97 and adjusted to. engage the said arm 98when the arm 93 is depressed suiliciently to cause the adjustment bar 103 to close the push-button energizes the motor starter and said motor 79.

Referring now to the overhead tool support apparatus,

member D, there is provided a vertical support tube 130 or gin pole rotatively mounted in the said support pipe S4 and extending above the operator and having a horih zo'ntal portio'nlSliyextends to. approximately the front zontal tubular tool support portion 131 attached intermediate its ends tothe top of the vertical support tube-13d. The forward longer tool carrying portion 132 of said hori- 41 of the platform 40 and the rearward shorter'portion 133 thereof extends somewhat'beyond the rear. of the platformdil. A sheave 134- is mountedat, the end of the forward portion 132' of said horizontal portion 131 and a unit S2,.the said spring llil must be of sufficient size to 'raisethe horizontal arm 98 of the bell-crank lever 97 and in turn raise the control bar 83 to its uppermost position.

t 'will'be seen that by applying sufiicient 'foot pressure 1 to the control bar to overcome'the force of the spiral spring 130 that the brake of the brake unit$2 will be released in the ratio with which the forceof the spring H ll is overcome; This will permit the elevator to descend by gravity on the trackway at any desired speed.

The mechanism comprising the foot-control bar 91%,

"the bell-crank lever 97, the yoke 1M andthe control adjustment bar 1% in addition to serving as a brake control unit also serves as the unit to energize the motor 78 when it is desired to raise-orliit the said elevator.

To accomplish this function, the control adjustment bar ldfihas a second adjustment bolt 113 mounted above the spring 11% on the same edge as the first adjustment bolt 1%. A push-button electric switch 114 is electrically connected to a motor starter for said motor 70, and when it is energized it energizessaid motor 7%. The said switch 114 is mounted under the said floor 53 in alignment with said second bolt 113 and is positioned mortgage the head of the said second adjustment boltllfi and energize the :staiterffor motor 7Q whenthefcontrol adjustment bar 11th; is pivoted against the force of the spring 119 by depressing the said foot-'controlfbar 38 somewhatbey-ond the range necessary forthe complete release of the brake.

This adjustment'makes it impossible for the operator to energize the starter for the motor 7% while the brake is opera-tor moves the like sheave 135 is mounted at the end of the rearward portion 13$;thereof. The said sheaves 134 and 135 carry a plastic coated wire rope 136 havinga tool,.such as an electric saw 137 attached to its forward end and a counterweight 133 such as a cylinderiwith avertical axis and a wire rope attaching means. on its: upper end, at-

a tubular casing-13th" 'Thesaid tubular casing 139 is provided with struts 14% or other usual meansQmounted along its side which are fixedly attached to .thevertical support tube 139 or ginxpole, so thatit will move as the said support tube 139 moves, thus keeping the said counterweight in alignment with the sheave 135 .as the tool during the splitting orother operation.

' The electric power litre for the tool being used, preferablyof the spiral coil type 141, maybe attached to the said horizontal portion 131 adjacentthe sheaves 134 and 135. This will permit the said power line 131 tofollow the downward cut of a splitting saw or other tool during the cutting operation without undue strain on the wiring or the insulation thereof. '7.

For use, the carcass splitting work station machine of the'invention is placed in the carcass carrying conveyor line, so that the carcass will pass along the front ii-of comprising: a

Q (l) a sheave affixed to the top of said vertical amass? descending in the direction of travel of the overhead carcass carrying conveyor. I

During the splitting operation of the machine, the carcasssplitter on the approach of a carcass depresses the foot-control bar 88 to the lower limit. This releases the brake and energizes the motor'starter and said motor 79 which lifts the elevator work station to the heighth desired when the foot control is. released. It will be seen that upon the release ofthe foot control bar the brake is applied which will hold the work station motionless until the carcass reaches the work station, Since the carcass is hanging from its hind legs the splitter starts sawing 1 the carcass in half from that point. As the saw progresses downward hedepresses the foot-control bar 33 sufficiently Althoughthe foregoingdescription is necessarily of de tailed character," in order that the invention may becompletely set fortln'it is to be understood that the specific terminology is not intended to be restrictive or confining, and that various rearrangements of parts and modifications of detail maybe resorted to Without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as herein claimed.

, What is claimed is: Q g

l.' A- carcass splitting elevator work station machine (a) an elevator support base having a rectangular horizontal base section and a rectangular vertical end section, 1 l -(b) elevator trackway rails obliquely to a horizontal plane, on the said elevator supportbase and secur'ed thereto, I ('c) an elevator Work station providedwith a horizonadjustably mounted,

' alw ork station platform for the operator and his OolS, I (d) guard rails mounted on said platform,

a flanged tr'ackway wheels adiustably mounted on said platform to receive saidtrackway' rails for up- .ward and downward movement thereon, v (f) a motor mounted on said support base for lifting said elevator. work station,

(g) ,ahydraulic' brake unit mounted on said support base for'controlling the descending movementof said elevator work station,' I

(h) a cable drum mounted on'said elevator support base horizontalsection,

I (i) said motor and hydraulic (j) elevator control means mounted on said platform.

and connected to said motor and brake means,

.-(k)- said elevator control means having a' control bar having its ends pivotally mounted on the floor of said platform and a horizontal section spaced above the said floor and having a linkage connection with a hydraulicrnaster brake cylinder and an electric power actuating switch: mounted below the floor of said platform, Y

end sectionof said elevator support base, Y (m) a cable passing over said sheave and connecting said elevator; workstation platform with. the cable drum, and (12) 'an overhead tool support apparatus mounted on said elevator platform.

' 2; The structure as defined in claim .1 wherein the. overhead tool" support apparatuseomprises a rotatively 'rnounted vertical support post and a horizontal tubular :portionmountedatop thereof, .a sheave mounted on each "end of said horizontal tubular portion, a tool carrying. cable-passing over said sheaves and connectinga tool susg; pended over the platform and a counterweight therefor suspended over the rear of said platform.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 and further including a vertical support pipe removably mounted on the rear of said platform, a back rest secured thereto, and horizontal guard rails secured thereto for mounting on said elevator platform and removably secured thereto.

' 4. The structure as defined in claim land further including a limit switch connected to said motor mounted on a said trackway railadjacent its upper end to break the motor circuit upon contact between said limitswitch and said elevator platform, an electric safety brake mounted on said platform adjacent said trackway wheels, a safety switch mounted on said vertical end portion of said support base and engaging said cable and electrically connected'to said safety brake whereby said safety switch will energize said safety brake and apply the brake on the said trackwaywheels if the cable becomes slack for any reason. 7 1

5. A carcass splitting elevator work comprising:

g (a) an elevator support base. having a rectangular horivertical end zontal base section and a rectangular section, 7

(b) elevator .trackway rails -mounted, obliquely to a horizontal plane, on thesaid elevator support base 7 and secured thereto, 7 Y

' (c) an elevator work stationprovide'd with a horizon.-

tal work stationplatform,

(d) flanged means on said platform to receive said trackw'ay rails for upward and downward movement thereon, f a e (e) an electric motor mounted on said support base for lifting saidelevator work station,

I (f) a, hydraulic brake unit mounted on said support base for controlling the descending rnovernent of said elevator work station, i (g) a'cable'drurn mounted on said "horizontal section,

(h) said motor and'hydraulic brake; unit being con-:-

nested-to said cable drum,

i (i) saiclelevator control means having a foot-operated. control bar having its ends pivotally mounted on'the floor of said platform'iand aihorizontal section spaced above the said floor, an L-shaped bracket mounted:

' below said fioor adjacentone'depending end portion 4 ofsaid controllban'a yoke welded on said bracket, a

said vertical arm thereof pivotally mounted on said i yoke,' a master hydraulic brakecylinder mounted on said bracket below said yoke with the piston rod 7 thereof in alignment with and engaging said vertical arm, of said bell crank lever, 21 vertical adjustment bar I pivotally mounted on said yoke remote from said. bracket; an adjustment bolt mounted'on said adjust- 'ment baradjacent its lower end for adjustablyen- 'justably mountedunder tension on said'platform whereby the said spring causes. the adjustment bar through said linkage to create pressureinsaid master brake cylinder and raise said foot-control bar,

( 1') said elevator control means having a second adjustmerit-bolt mounted on" said adjustment bar'opposite sa d spring, a switchelectrically connected to said when said controlbar is depressed,

I (k); cable carrying means affixed to the top said verticalend-sectionof said elevator support base,

j (1) a cable passing over said'ca ble carrying means and station machine elevator support base 1 gagingfsaidvertical arm, a control spring for said adjustment bar having-one end thereof mounted adacent its upper "end and the other end thereof admotor and-mounted under said platform in alignment with said second adjustment'bolt and adaptedto ad justably engagesaidswitch to energize said motor.

9 connecting said elevator work station platform with the cable drum, and

(m) an overhead tool support apparatus mounted on said elevator platform.

6. An incline and decline Work station machine adapted for traveling alignment with a work in process conveyor as described comprising:

(a) a work station support base having a rectangular horizontal base section and a rectangular vertical end section,

(b) work station trackway rails mounted, obliquely to a horizontal plane, on the said support base and secured thereto and forming an acute angle not exceeding sixty degrees with said horizontal base section,

(c) a work station provided with a horizontal platform for the operator and his tools,

((1) means on said platform to receive said trackway rails for upward and downward movement thereon,

(e) power means mounted on said support base for lifting said work station,

(1) brake means mounted on said support base for holding and controlling the descending movement of said work station,

(g) connecting means between said Work station platform and said power and brake means, and

(h) unitary control means mounted on said platform and connected to said power and brake means for controlling the movement of said work station,

(i) said unitary control means including a control bar, linkage means engaging said bar and power and brake actuating means connected therewith and operable in a first position to apply and release said brake means and in a second position to energize said power in accordance with the relative position of said control bar whereby the upward and downward movement of the work station may be controlled.

7. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein the means on said platform to receive said trackway rails are flanged Wheels.

8. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein the trackway rails are adjustably mounted on said work station support base whereby the angle of descent of the Work station may be increased or decreased.

9. The structure defined in claim 6 wherein the work station control means comprises a control bar having its ends pivotally mounted on the floor of said platform and a horizontal section spaced above the said floor and having a linkage connection with a hydraulic master brake cylinder and a power actuating electric switch mounted below the floor of said platform.

10. The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein the connecting means between said platform and said power and brake means is a cable extending from said platform to a cable drum mounted on said support base and rotatively connected to said power and brake means.

11. The structure as defined in claim 6 and further including a tool support means mounted on said work station platform.

12. An incline and decline work station machine adapted for traveling alignment with a work in process conveyor as described comprising:

(a) a work station support base having a rectangular horizontal base section and a rectangular vertical end section,

([1) work station trackway rails mounted, obliquely to a horizontal plane, on the said support base and secured thereto and forming an acute angle not exceeding forty-five degrees with said horizontal base section,

(c) a work station provided with a horizontal platform for the operator and his tools,

(d) means on said platform to receive said trackway rails for upward and downward movement thereon,

(e) power means mounted on said support base for lifting said work station,

(f) brake means mounted on said support base for holding and controlling the descending movement of said work station,

(g) a cable drum mounted on said horizontal section of said work station support base,

(h) said power and brake means being connected to said cable drum,

(1') unitary control means mounted on said platform, and connected to said power and brake means for controlling the movement of said work station,

(j) said unitary control means including a control bar, linkage means engaging said bar and power and brake actuating means connected therewith and operable in a first position to apply and release said brake means and in a second position to energize said power means in accordance with the relative position of said control bar whereby the upward and downward movement of the work station may 'be controlled,

(k) cable carrying means afiixed to the top of said vertical end section of said support base, and

(I) a cable passing over said cable carrying means and connecting said work station platform with the cable drum.

13. The structure as defined in claim 12 wherein the cable carrying means for the cable connecting said work station platform with the cable drum is a sheave.

14. The structure as defined in claim 12 and further including a vertical support pipe, an adjustable back rest secured thereto, and detachable horizontal guard rails secured thereto for mounting on said work station platform and removable for right and left hand operations.

15. The structure as defined in claim 12 and further including a tool support means mounted on said work station platform.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,668,500 5/28 Gillespie 187-10 2,286,372 5/42 Page 182-129 2,446,972 8/48 Wyen 182-129 943,708 7/60 Sasgen 187-10 2,989,140 6/61 Hill 182-148 3,112,009 11/63 Langer 182-63 HARRISON R, MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CARCASS SPLITTING ELEVATOR WORK STATION MACHINE COMPRISING: (A) AN ELEVATOR SUPPORT BASE HAVING A RECTANGULAR HORIZONTAL BASE SECTION AND A RECTANGULAR VERTICAL END SECTION, (B) ELEVATOR TRACKWAY RAILS ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED, OBLIQUELY TO A HORIZONTAL PLANE, ON THE SAID ELVATOR SUPPORT BASE AND SECURED THERETO, (C) AN ELEVATOR WORK STATION PROVIDED WITH A HORIZONTAL WORK STATION PLATFORM FOR THE OPEATOR AND HIS TOOLS, (D) GUARD RAILS MOUNTED ON SAID PLATFORM, (E) FLANGED TRACKWAY WHEELS ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED ON SAID PLATFORM TO RECEIVE SAID TRACKWAY RAILS FOR UPWARD AND DOWNWARD MOVEMENT THREON, (F) A MOTOR MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT BASE FOR LIFTING SAID ELEVATOR WORK STATION, (G) A HYDRAULIC BRAKE UNIT MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT BASE FOR CONTROLLING THER DESCENDING MOVEMENT OF SAID ELEVATOR WORK STATION, (H) A CABLE DRUM MOUNTED ON SAID ELEVATOR SUPPORT BASE HORIZONTAL SECTION, (I) SAID MOTOR AND HYDRAULIC BRAKE UNIT BEING CONBECTED TO SAID CABLE DRUM, (J) ELEVATOR CONTROL MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID PLATFORM AND CONNECTED TO SAID MOTOR MEANS HAVING A CONTROL BAR (K) SAID ELEVATOR CONTROL MEANS HAVING A CONTROL BAR HAVING ITS ENDS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE FLOOR OF SAID PLATFORM AND A HORIZONTAL SECTION SPACED ABOVE THE SAID FLOOR AND HAVING A LINKAGE CONNECTION WITH A HYDRAULIC MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AND AN ELECTRIC POWER ACTUATING SWITCH MOUNTED BELOW THE FLOOR OF SAID PLATFORM, (L) A SHEAVE AFFIXED TO THE TOP OF SAID VERTICAL END SECTION OF SAID ELEVATOR SUPPORT BASE, (M) A CABLE PASSING OVER SAID SHEAVE AND CONNECTING SAID ELEVATOR WORK STATION PLATFORM WITH THE CABLE DRUM, AND (N) AN OVERHEAD TOOL SUPPORT APPARATUS MOUNTED ON SAID ELEVATOR PLATFORM. 